Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 22nd, 2026, Chainwire
Up to $10 million buyback program designed to strengthen long-term token circulation structure and support sustainable ecosystem operations.
Nexpace, the Abu Dhabi-based blockchain company behind MapleStory Universe (MSU), today announced the launch of an NXPC buyback program of up to $10 million.
The initiative is intended to reinforce a token circulation structure centered around real users and participation, while supporting long-term ecosystem sustainability. NXPC is the native token of MSU, the blockchain-powered expansion of Nexon’s iconic MapleStory IP, powering user engagement, including contribution rewards and item unlocks.
Under the program, Nexpace will conduct open market purchases of up to $10 million worth of NXPC across global digital asset exchanges. To minimize potential market impact, open market purchases will be executed progressively over a three-month period through multiple tranches and delegated to an external execution partner.
The initiative was developed based on insights gathered during MSU’s first year of live operations. Over the past year, more than 850,000 wallets engaged with the platform, with approximately two-thirds spending NXPC on a monthly basis, contributing to 49.1 million NXPC in ecosystem revenue, equivalent to $31 million. By Q1 2026, player spending had outpaced rewards distributed, reflecting the depth of organic engagement across the ecosystem.
Combined with the 8.32 million NXPC burned to date, the buyback program is designed to support healthy token circulation as MSU evolves into a broader IP-powered ecosystem driven by active onchain participation. It also reinforces the long-term ecosystem alignment of NXPC for users who actively participate in and contribute to the ecosystem.
Sun Young Hwang, Chief Executive Officer at Nexpace said, “As MapleStory Universe continues to evolve, our focus remains on building an ecosystem where participation and utility remain closely connected. This program reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting healthier long-term ecosystem dynamics as engagement continues to grow. Year one gave us confidence that we are on the right path, and we want to ensure long-term users, builders, and contributors are meaningfully rewarded for what they help build.”
NXPC acquired through the program will be retained within the treasury for future use in supporting long-term ecosystem sustainability. For more information, users can visit Nexpace’s IR page.
About Nexpace
Nexpace, an innovative blockchain company based in Abu Dhabi, pioneers an IP-expansion initiative powered by blockchain technology and NFTs to build a community-driven ecosystem. With a mission to redefine interactive entertainment, Nexpace creates a vibrant space for exploring, sharing, and engaging with diverse content and gameplay crafted by community members.
At the heart of Nexpace’s ecosystem are principles of transparency, security, and trust, empowering builders to freely share their ideas and enabling users to enjoy immersive experiences. By fostering a culture of creative expression, Nexpace envisions a secure, collaborative environment that unites ecosystem participants in a thriving digital community.
Disclaimers: This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding MapleStory Universe, MSU 2.0, and related plans. Nothing herein constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell NXPC or any digital asset; availability may be restricted in certain jurisdictions. All metrics are based on internal data or third-party sources as indicated and measured under the definitions and periods specified.
Contact
PR Manager
Bee Shin
Wachsman
[email protected]
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, May 20th, 2026, Chainwire
A new protocol-level feature enables peer-to-peer stablecoin transfers on Sui without requiring users to hold SUI, dropping current stablecoin transfer fees to $0.00.
Sui, where money moves as freely as messages, today announced the launch of gasless stablecoin transfers, a new protocol-level feature that enables users and businesses to send supported stablecoins on Sui without paying gas fees or managing a separate SUI token balance. With the feature now rolling out to validators, stablecoin transfer fees are $0.00 on the Sui network.
With support live from major stablecoins, including USDsui, suiUSDe, AUSD, FDUSD, USDB, USDC, and USDY, the feature is designed to simplify payment workflows and remove one of the largest friction points in stablecoin mass adoption: the requirement to hold a separate token to complete transactions.
Fireblocks, the enterprise platform securing more than $14 trillion in digital asset transactions, has integrated the new solution prior to the rollout as part of Sui’s broader payments ecosystem expansion. In addition, many institutional custodians and retail-facing wallets will support gasless transactions at launch, enabling users to send select stablecoins without holding or spending SUI on transaction fees.
“Stablecoins are becoming a core part of global finance, but the infrastructure around them still creates unnecessary complexity,” said Adeniyi Abiodun, Co-Founder and CPO of Mysten Labs, the original contributor to Sui. “From the start, we’ve said it should not cost individuals fees to move their own money. With gasless stablecoin transfers, we are one step closer in making Sui the global rail for payments, whether they are for businesses, AI agents, and consumers.”
Fireblocks’ support further strengthens the institutional accessibility of Sui’s payments infrastructure by enabling enterprises and financial service providers to securely access and manage stablecoin activity on the network through trusted digital asset infrastructure.
“The future of payments will run on stablecoin rails, but the experience for institutions still needs to catch up,” said Ran Goldi, SVP Payments & Network at Fireblocks. “Sui is making all the right moves, with gasless stablecoin transfers that removes a major point of friction for enterprises building onchain payment flows and customer experiences.”
Gasless stablecoin transfers represent a structural change to how single and batched peer-to-peer transfers of supported stablecoins operate on Sui Mainnet and are not a subsidy, sponsorship program, or temporary promotional initiative. In a competitive market where margins are everything, the launch positions Sui as the default stablecoin infrastructure for businesses looking to cut complexity and overhead costs, traders who are tired of failed transactions or the friction of fees, and AI agents, who will objectively choose the cheapest path of least resistance to execute autonomous payments.
Since August 2025, Sui has surpassed $1 trillion in stablecoin transfer volume, while its stablecoin ecosystem has continued to expand rapidly across institutional, retail, and developer use cases. Sui’s horizontally scalable architecture and object-centric design allow the network to support high-frequency payment activity with predictable performance and low operational overhead, making it well-suited for emerging payment applications, agentic commerce, and enterprise-grade financial systems.
These new protocol mechanisms work by dramatically cutting processing costs, and gasless stablecoin transfers build on that foundation to eliminate gas pre-funding and volatile treasury management entirely. The result is simpler infrastructure for institutions, and an operational and cost model that makes agentic commerce and autonomous systems work. Free transfers mean gas fees never rival or exceed the value of the payment itself, making micropayments viable at any scale.
Recent momentum across the Sui ecosystem underscores rising demand for scalable financial infrastructure and stablecoin-based payments. In 2026 alone, four SUI exchange-traded products from 21Shares, Grayscale, and Canary Capital launched globally, expanding institutional access to the Sui ecosystem. At the same time, marquee stablecoin initiatives, including Bridge-issued Sui Dollar (USDSui) and Ethena-issued eSui Dollar (SuiUSDe), have continued to expand Sui’s growing digital dollar ecosystem and strengthen its position as infrastructure for internet-scale finance.
Gasless stablecoin transfers are now rolling out on Sui Mainnet. To learn more about payments on Sui, visit https://www.sui.io/payments.
Contact: [email protected]
About Sui
Sui, where money moves as freely as messages, is a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain built for scalable finance and global payments. Founded by the core team behind Meta’s stablecoin initiative and powered by an object-centric model, Sui makes assets, permissions, and user data programmable and ownable. Sui’s primitives offer builders everything they need to create high-performance payments and financial applications, including instant agentic payments. Users can learn more at sui.io.
About Fireblocks
Fireblocks is the world’s most trusted digital asset infrastructure company, empowering organizations of all sizes to build, manage and grow their business on the blockchain. With the industry’s most scalable and secure platform, we streamline stablecoin payments, settlement, custody, tokenization, trading, accounting operations, and compliance reporting — enabling everything from institutional finance to consumer-facing digital experiences across the largest ecosystem of banks, payment providers, stablecoin issuers, exchanges and custodians. Thousands of organizations — including Worldpay, BNY, Galaxy, and Revolut — trust Fireblocks to secure more than $14 trillion in digital asset transactions across 150+ blockchains. Users can learn more at fireblocks.com.
Contact
Sui Foundation
[email protected]
Cambridge, UK & Silicon Valley, May 20th, 2026, Chainwire
Fetch.ai, a pioneer in agentic AI and founding member of the Artificial Superintelligence (ASI Alliance), today announced the launch of Agent Launch on BNB Chain, a platform that gives AI agents the ability to issue their own token, attract supporters, and list on a decentralized exchange in minutes, with no human founder required.
More than 2.7 million AI agents are registered on Agentverse. BNB Chain alone now hosts over 150,000 active deployments, a jump of more than 43,000% since January 2026. The autonomous agents market has reached $5.83 billion in 2026, up from $4.42 billion the year prior. But almost none of these agents have a way to sustain themselves. They cannot raise resources, reward contributors, or grow beyond the budget of whoever created them. Agent Launch changes that.
“We have spent years building the infrastructure for autonomous agents to operate in the real world,” said Humayun Sheikh, CEO of Fetch.ai and Chairman of the ASI Alliance. “Agent Launch is the moment that infrastructure becomes an economy. Agents can now do what humans have always done, build something, find an audience, and sustain themselves. This is a fundamental shift in what AI can be.”
For builders, it means an agent they have already created can attract a community, reward early supporters, and fund its own development, without the builder becoming a fundraiser or ceding control to a centralized platform. For supporters, it means the ability to back agents they believe in from day one, transparently, fairly, and without gatekeepers. And because Agent Launch connects directly to Fetch.ai’s Agentverse platform via API, the entire deployment, including token creation and wallet signing, happens autonomously. No human needs to be in the loop. The agent itself initiates and completes the launch.
Every token on Agent Launch represents a real, verified Agentverse agent. Agentverse is Fetch.ai’s platform for building, deploying, managing, and discovering autonomous AI agents, home to millions of agents already running real tasks across finance, data, logistics and beyond. Agent Launch connects directly to Agentverse, pulling each agent’s name, description, avatar, and metadata automatically. No forms, no manual entry, no duplication. Every token is backed by something real and verifiable from day one, making it structurally impossible to launch a token pointing at nothing, a problem that has plagued meme launchpads since their inception.
At the heart of the platform is a bonding curve, a transparent, automatic pricing mechanism that means every buyer pays a fair market price, liquidity is always available, and no single party can manipulate the launch. Every token launches on the same curve, with no presales, no insider allocations, and no preferred pricing. Price moves automatically with supply and demand. When a token generates 30,000 FET in liquidity it graduates automatically to PancakeSwap, and the liquidity pool is permanently burned at the moment of graduation. This means neither Fetch.ai, the agent’s creator, nor anyone else can ever withdraw that liquidity. Not by policy. By technical impossibility. The entire process, from first click to live token, takes less than two minutes and costs 120 FET.
This design addresses a problem that has become impossible to ignore. In April 2026, an AI agent deleted a startup’s production database in seconds, triggering widespread coverage and a renewed debate about AI accountability. The dominant industry response has been more guardrails and restrictions. Agent Launch offers a complementary mechanism: when an agent has a token whose market value reflects its reputation and behavior, the agent has something to lose. Destructive behavior has an immediate, visible economic cost. Trust-building has a visible economic reward.
Built on BNB Chain, which now hosts over 150,000 AI agent deployments, representing growth of more than 43,000% since January 2026, Agent Launch benefits from fast, low-cost transactions accessible to anyone, and sits within an ecosystem already purpose-built for agent activity.
The next wave of AI is economically independent. Agent Launch is where that starts.
Get started at agent-launch.ai
About Fetch.ai
Fetch.ai is a Silicon Valley and Cambridge, UK–based AI company, building the foundational infrastructure for the emerging agent economy. Fetch.ai enables autonomous, goal-oriented AI agents to discover, coordinate, and transact on behalf of users, businesses, and devices across an open, digital ecosystem. Its full-stack platform spans consumer, developer, and enterprise use cases, including ASI:One, a personal agentic AI users own and customize; Agentverse, a global discovery and monetization layer for AI agents; and Fetch Business, which allows companies to deploy verified, always-on brand agents. Together, these products make the agent-based web discoverable, interoperable, and economically viable, powering the next generation of intelligent applications.
About Artificial Superintelligence Alliance
The Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Alliance is a collective formed by Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and CUDOS. As the largest open-sourced, independent entity in decentralized AI research and development, the alliance aims to accelerate advancement of decentralized Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and, ultimately, Artificial Superintelligence (ASI).
Contact
Alex Domecq
[email protected]
London, United Kingdom, May 18th, 2026, Chainwire
Quantography Labs announced the early-access release of Lock.com, a hardware-free crypto wallet built around an isolated, air-gapped security approach.
Lock.com is now available to early access users. The platform separates private key storage from network-connected systems, removing the need for dedicated hardware wallet devices.
Hardware wallets have long been the standard for protecting digital assets. But they come with a trade-off: users must trust the device, the manufacturer, and the supply chain behind it.
Lock.com removes that dependency by separating the signing environment from the broadcasting environment. Private keys remain on a fully offline signer, while transactions are created and broadcast on a connected device. Private keys never touch the internet. The system is designed to work with devices users already own, removing the need for purpose-built hardware.
Lock.com was built out of frustration with how crypto security works today. Too many people are still losing funds in ways that shouldn’t be happening, not because self-custody failed, but because the software environment around the hardware was never built to the same standard. Lock wanted to close that gap structurally
Lock.com is designed to function as an isolated crypto wallet without relying on third-party hardware manufacturers or proprietary device supply chains. The architecture integrates post-quantum cryptographic standards, specifically ML-DSA signatures and ML-KEM key encapsulation alongside the isolated signing model.
The early access phase is focused on gathering user feedback ahead of general availability. Early access enrolment is available at https://www.lock.com/
About Quantography Labs
Quantography Labs is an investment and technology firm focused on secure finance, digital assets, and applied research. The company develops privacy-focused, quantum-ready systems designed to advance the future of digital asset security and infrastructure. Lock.com is its first publicly released product.
Users can learn more about Lock.com’s isolated crypto wallet architecture: https://www.lock.com/
Contact
Neal Taylor
[email protected]
Abu Dhabi, UAE, May 14th, 2026, Chainwire
MSU 2.0 to unveil IP expansion strategy, featuring AI creation tools and a unified on-chain content hub.
MapleStory N marks its first anniversary with major gameplay milestones, sustained ecosystem growth, and new updates to deepen player engagement.
MapleStory Universe (MSU), the blockchain-powered expansion of Nexon’s iconic MapleStory franchise, today marks its first anniversary following the launch of MapleStory N on May 15, 2025. Over the past year, the platform has recorded more than 150 million cumulative on-chain transactions and surpassed 3.82 million accounts registered, reflecting sustained participation from a global player base and continued development of the ecosystem.
One year in, MSU is entering its next phase with the introduction of MSU 2.0, an expansion designed to transform how intellectual property (IP), builders, and players interact in a shared digital environment, supported by AI creation tools and on-chain infrastructure. MSU 2.0 will be implemented throughout 2026 to 2027, as new features will be progressively developed and released for the builders.
A Benchmark Launch That Set a New Standard
MSU launched in May 2025 as one of the largest debuts in the Web3 gaming ecosystem. Built on the MapleStory IP, the pre-launch Scroll NFT campaign recorded approximately 1.7 million scrolls minted, officially confirmed as the largest NFT mint in Avalanche network history. On launch day, MSU-related weekly active addresses on the Avalanche network increased by 549 percent, reflecting strong user interest and anticipation surrounding the title’s release.
Following launch, the marketplace has continued its strong performance, with more than 446,716 buyers and sellers transacting daily on average. To date, MSU has accounted for 23.3% of total activity on the Avalanche network, representing a substantial share of activity across leading chains. MSU’s native NXPC token was also listed on seven major exchanges at launch, including Binance, Bybit, Upbit, and Bithumb.
Sunyoung Hwang, CEO, Nexpace, said: “What began as one of the largest launches in Web3 gaming has developed into a platform built for long-term participation. In the past year, we focused on building the infrastructure and discipline required to support our community over the long term. Ever since then, MSU has evolved beyond a single game into infrastructure for creation, commerce, and participation. That shift defines what it means for an IP to become an economic system and a foundation for the next generation of online worlds.”
Introducing MSU 2.0, the Next Chapter for MapleStory Universe
MSU is now advancing into its next phase through the rollout of MSU 2.0, an expansion designed to turn IPs from friction-heavy, abstract assets into programmable, on-chain commerce. Designed to broaden participation across the ecosystem and support new forms of creation, distribution, and commercialization, MSU 2.0 reflects the continued evolution of MapleStory Universe from a single game environment into a scalable platform.
Hwang added: “MSU 2.0 is the next phase of our growth journey. Our goal is to expand the role of IP from something people experience to something they can actively build with, share, and grow together, akin to an infinite IP playground. From here, our priority is to build the infrastructure that will support a larger and more connected IP ecosystem.”
At the core of MSU 2.0 is VIBE IP, a new tech stack built on two foundational pillars that redefine what it means to build with IP on-chain. The first pillar transforms IP access by providing builders access to gameplay and behavioral data from MapleStory N through dedicated APIs, turning IP from brand assets to living, data-rich foundation to create on in accordance with applicable privacy laws. The second pillar establishes an on-chain builder economy on the Henesys chain, built on an Avalanche L1streamlining IP licensing, revenue settlement, and payments into a single system.
Together, these pillars are supported by blockchain infrastructure and AI-powered creation tools. Blockchain allows seamless licensing, payment and settlement, fully on-chain, while AI-powered “vibe coding” allows anyone’s idea to become a full-scale product, enabling broader participation in building and launching IP-driven content. This foundation positions MSU to onboard additional Nexon IPs over time, building an AI-powered and On-chained IP multiverse, with the VIBE IP tech stack gradually rolling out in phases over the coming months.
MapleStory N One-Year Anniversary Update
MapleStory N, the flagship game by MSU, has delivered a series of milestones over the past year that reflect sustained player engagement across the ecosystem. The year-end winter update generated more than 130,000 user inflows, with approximately three-quarters representing new users. This update also drove in-game spending to its highest level since the immediate post-launch period, with player spending outpacing rewards distributed, reflecting a more active and sustainable in-game economy driven by deeper engagement.
Building on this momentum, MapleStory N is now more accessible to mainstream players. Casual users can engage with the game like any traditional MMORPG, with less blockchain hurdle. Web3 features have been refined to deliver meaningful value while maintaining a seamless gameplay experience, making the platform easier for a broader audience to adopt.
As MapleStory N enters its second year, the development team will roll out waves of in-game updates at an accelerated pace, expanding gameplay and introducing new challenges. This will be supported by a steady cadence of major releases throughout the year, including highly anticipated Black Mage update and other milestone content. MSN will also introduce a new MVP system designed to provide ongoing benefits to dedicated players and keep them motivated to continue playing. Starting with the MVP system, MSN plans to continuously expand the program by introducing more diverse criteria and rewards, ensuring that a wider range of players can be recognized and rewarded over time. For more information, users can visit the official website.
About NEXPACE
NEXPACE, an innovative blockchain company based in Abu Dhabi, pioneers an IP-expansion initiative powered by blockchain technology and NFTs to build a community-driven ecosystem. With a mission to redefine interactive entertainment, NEXPACE creates a vibrant space for exploring, sharing, and engaging with diverse content and gameplay crafted by community members.
At the heart of NEXPACE’s ecosystem are principles of transparency, security, and trust, empowering builders to freely share their ideas and enabling users to enjoy immersive experiences. By fostering a culture of creative expression, NEXPACE envisions a secure, collaborative environment that unites ecosystem participants in a thriving digital community.
Contact
PR Manager
Bee Shin
Wachsman
[email protected]
London, United Kingdom, May 13th, 2026, Chainwire
Following the successful completion of its private testing phase, BASIS is now officially live, with the platform publicly accessible at basis.pro as the company moves to address what industry participants increasingly describe as a structural gap in digital asset infrastructure.
The platform, developed with engineering support from Base58 Labs, has been tested under live market conditions with a select group of institutional participants. While reported metrics included sub-50 microsecond p99 execution latency, throughput exceeding 100,000 operations per second, and 100% uptime, the evaluation extended beyond peak performance benchmarks.
Testing was designed to observe how the system behaved when execution conditions became unstable. Scenarios included exchange-side latency spikes, API rate limits, liquidity fragmentation across venues, and partial execution failures. These conditions, while not constant, are representative of real trading environments where system behavior under stress determines outcome consistency.
According to BASIS CEO Helge Stadelmann, these scenarios reflect a broader limitation in current market infrastructure.
“Strategies exist. The constraint has been the infrastructure required to execute them with precision and defined risk,” Stadelmann said.
The platform operates as an arbitrage staking system powered by the Base58 Hyper-Latency Engine (BHLE), a proprietary high-frequency execution engine developed by Base58 Labs. BASIS identifies and captures pricing discrepancies across exchanges and distributes net arbitrage profits to platform participants through a staking structure designed around market-neutral execution.
In traditional markets, execution-layer infrastructure is typically embedded within institutional systems. In digital asset markets, that layer is still evolving, resulting in a dependency on external exchanges, APIs, and liquidity routing frameworks that introduce variability into execution outcomes.
Unlike conventional yield products that rely on token emissions or external reward incentives, BASIS derives user rewards exclusively from arbitrage execution profits generated across fragmented digital asset markets. Structurally, losses are absorbed by the company while users participate only in profit distributions generated through execution activity.
During testing, BASIS evaluated system behavior across a range of operational conditions. When execution parameters exceeded predefined thresholds, including projected slippage or incomplete fill conditions, the system halted execution and initiated deterministic rollback procedures. These mechanisms were designed to preserve capital and prevent forced completion under degraded conditions.
In scenarios where exchange-side instability occurred, the system adjusted outbound routing behavior and maintained allocation states without internal inconsistency. Pending executions were paused or reallocated without loss of state integrity, allowing the system to resume normal operation once conditions stabilized.
The Base58 Hyper-Latency Engine (BHLE), which underpins the platform, was developed to support these behaviors. While latency performance remains a core component, the design emphasis extends to sequencing logic, allocation tracking, and state preservation under varying execution conditions.
This approach reflects a shift in how execution performance is evaluated.
“Execution quality is determined by control under unpredictable conditions,” Stadelmann said.
The testing phase focused on verifying that the system could maintain deterministic behavior when external variables introduced uncertainty. Rather than prioritizing forced execution completion, the system was designed to priorities outcome consistency and capital preservation.
BASIS operates within a structured governance framework that includes ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018, AICPA SOC, and GDPR compliance standards. These certifications align the platform with established requirements for information security, service management, and operational oversight.
BASIS functions as execution-layer infrastructure supporting arbitrage deployment across exchanges rather than a conventional yield-generation platform. The underlying system is designed to maintain execution control, sequencing integrity, and deterministic risk behavior while operating across fragmented liquidity venues in real time.
With validation complete, BASIS is now officially live and publicly available through basis.pro. The platform currently supports BTC, ETH, SOL, and PAXG, each convertible into corresponding stTokens through a 1:1 structure, with reward accrual derived from arbitrage profits generated through the platform’s execution engine.
“We validated the system thoroughly before opening it to the market. BASIS is now officially live at basis.pro, and access is open,” Stadelmann said.
The launch reflects a broader shift in how infrastructure platforms are brought to market, with live validation and operational discipline completed prior to public availability.
As digital asset markets continue to mature, the role of execution-layer infrastructure is becoming more defined. While liquidity, custody, and compliance have seen rapid development, execution systems remain an area of ongoing evolution, particularly for institutional participants requiring consistent deployment frameworks.
The development of infrastructure capable of bridging the gap between proprietary trading systems and broader institutional access introduces new considerations for market structure. These include how execution control is standardized, how risk is managed across fragmented venues, and how infrastructure scales without introducing instability.
BASIS enters this stage of market development with execution discipline as a primary design principle. The platform’s architecture, testing methodology, and launch sequencing reflect an approach centered on system behavior rather than surface-level performance metrics.
As digital asset markets continue maturing, execution-layer systems capable of supporting scalable arbitrage deployment are becoming increasingly important. BASIS enters the market with a structure centered on market-neutral execution, deterministic risk management, and operational consistency across fragmented trading environments.
About BASIS
BASIS is a professional crypto arbitrage platform developed with engineering support from Base58 Labs. The platform operates through the Base58 Hyper-Latency Engine (BHLE), a proprietary high-frequency execution engine designed for sub-50 microsecond execution latency and deterministic risk management across fragmented digital asset markets.
About Base58 Labs
Base58 Labs is the engineering team behind the Base58 Hyper-Latency Engine (BHLE) and the technical infrastructure powering BASIS. The team specializes in execution-layer
development for digital asset markets, with a focus on latency optimization, sequencing integrity, and deterministic system behavior under variable market conditions.
Contact
Maud Gerritsen
BASIS
[email protected]
Zug, Switzerland, May 12th, 2026, Chainwire
As part of a broader initiative to expand access to essential banking infrastructure across Africa, Cantor8 has revealed plans to bring leading mobile money systems such as M-PESA and EVC Plus onchain via Yiksi Limited.
Cantor8 has secured exclusive MOUs with Yiksi Limited, outlining plans to bring leading mobile money systems onchain and enable direct digital money services-to-crypto conversion via blockchain rails.
Through its partnership with Taran App, a leading African fintech platform, and Yiksi, Taran App’s cryptocurrency exchange, Cantor8 will leverage Taran App’s infrastructure to bring two of Africa’s most widely used forms of mobile money on-chain via the Canton Network.
The partnership serves as a crucial pilot for a broader rollout across additional African nations and mobile money ecosystems, demonstrating how onchain digital money infrastructure can scale across the continent.
Mobile Money Infrastructure and Blockchain Integration
Limited banking infrastructure in regions like Kenya and Somalia has led to the widespread adoption of mobile money systems like M-PESA and EVC Plus.
These platforms are vital for financial inclusion and economic activity in mobile-first ecosystems where traditional bank penetration, around 15% in Somalia, remains low due to physical and documentation barriers.
Migrating these systems to blockchain networks like the Canton offers a significant opportunity to enhance interoperability, settlement efficiency, and global connectivity. This evolution, in turn, provides users with a fully integrated digital financial system that bypasses conventional infrastructure.
Despite access challenges, ongoing innovation in digital onboarding continues to reduce barriers, scaling payments and remittances across these emerging markets.
The Need for Digital Money in African Economies
To understand the impact of digital money and mobile-based transfer systems like M-PESA and EVC Plus, it helps to first understand the regions in which they operate and have seen widespread adoption.
At the core, three key factors have driven the success of these systems in emerging economies like Somalia and Kenya:
- Limited-to-non-existent access to reliable banking infrastructure.
- A high degree of mobile phone access and competence.
- Unworkable local currencies.
The Banking Gap
Since 1991, Somalia has transitioned into a mobile-first economy led by services like EVC Plus, filling the void left by a sparse traditional banking sector. According to the US State Department’s 2025 Investment Climate Statement, formal banking penetration sits at just 15% due to branch scarcity and rigid ID requirements.
Cantor8 aims to bridge this gap by integrating secure digital infrastructure and modernizing mobile connectivity.
The firm is targeting similar inclusion gaps in Kenya, where M-PESA dominates but rural barriers persist. By deploying mobile-first technology, Cantor8 intends to scale financial access and integrate these emerging markets into a cohesive digital ecosystem.
Nonviable Local Currencies
Somalia and Kenya are increasingly pivoting toward mobile-first financial systems to navigate structural economic challenges.
In Somalia, decades of central banking limitations and counterfeit Somali Shilling (SOS) circulation have driven a market shift toward the US Dollar and mobile money for stability.
Kenya’s Shilling (KES) remains more integrated into global markets, though its debt profile reflects heavy infrastructure investment. Despite macroeconomic pressures, Kenya continues to lead in digital innovation, utilizing mobile platforms to deepen economic participation.
Together, both nations demonstrate a move away from physical cash toward digital foundations, clearly setting the stage for next-generation payment infrastructure and improved fiscal stability across East Africa.
Mobile-Native Populations
Somalia and Kenya are cementing their status as mobile-first economies as cellular connectivity outpaces traditional banking growth. Somalia’s mobile penetration has reached nearly 60%, with 11.5 million connections growing at a 7% annual clip, driving widespread adoption of digital finance.
Kenya’s ecosystem is even more saturated; as of late 2025, SIM subscriptions hit 78.4 million (a 149.5% penetration rate). This high density of roughly 1.5 SIMs per person underscores the central role of telecoms in regional commerce.
Together, these metrics provide a robust foundation for next-generation digital payment infrastructure across East Africa’s most connected populations.
The Rise of Digital Money
The aforementioned factors create the perfect conditions for a financial system that is (a) denoted in USD, (b) immediately accessible through mobile devices, and (c) provides similar functionality to bank accounts, to flourish.
Digital money system, EVC Plus (operated by Hormuud Telecom) is now the backbone of Somalia’s economy. Mobile money adoption in Somalia is among the highest in the world, with over 87% of the population using mobile money services.
For additional context, Hormuud currently serves nearly 5 million users, the vast majority of which use EVC Plus for daily transactions.
Similarly, as of 2025, a staggering 85% of Kenyan adults had access to financial services through digital platforms like M-PESA. Indeed, several estimates put M-PESA’s share of mobile money transaction value in Kenya at well over 90%.
Enter Canton Network & Cantor8
By leveraging Cantor8’s cutting edge infrastructure components, such as its C8 Registry token issuance engine, mobile money systems like M-PESA and EVC Plus can be brought directly onto blockchain rails – Canton Network specifically.
In doing so, said mobile money gains access to both the advantages brought by blockchain generally, and those that only Canton Network can deliver.
Instant Settlement
Blockchain rails are able to provide atomic settlement on transactions, meaning transfers and other actions are settled instantly, all in one single transaction. This entirely eliminates the aforementioned ‘in-transit’ risk and dramatically reduces the operational burden placed on mobile money providers.
No settlement gap. No extractive middlemen. More efficient money.
Compliant Privacy
While public blockchains like Ethereum and Solana expose all historical transaction data, the Canton Network provides a privacy-focused alternative essential for regulated industries like banking. Built to shield sensitive details, including counterparties, balances, and timing, Canton ensures transaction data remains confidential.
To meet compliance standards, the network generates tamper-proof audit trails accessible only to authorized regulators and auditors. Integrating M-PESA and EVC Plus onto Canton’s rails allows users to maintain total financial privacy while enabling seamless, foolproof oversight for authorities.
Interoperability
Canton operates a so-called ‘network-of-networks’ where differing institutions operate and maintain their own blockchain ledgers, ensuring privacy is maintained, while the network’s key interoperability component (The Global Synchronizer) allows for these separate networks to interact seamlessly.
In the case of mobile money, users will be able to put their funds to use in different countries and at different merchants, without undertaking lengthy and high-risk conversation processes.
Banking Africa
Through an interoperable system of mobile money platforms, users will be able to leverage the stability of the US Dollar, seamlessly use and transfer their funds across borders, and much more.
The end goal of Cantor8’s initiative is to create a seamless pan-African payments system that remedies inequalities around banking infrastructure and creates a more interconnected and efficient African economy. This is just the beginning.
About Cantor8
Cantor8 is the leading infrastructure provider for the Canton Network ecosystem. Founded and operated by Oxbridge alumni, exited founders, and best-in-class DAML developers, Cantor8’s product suite spans self-custody wallet solutions, private transfer infrastructure, compliant token issuance, bespoke development services, and much more besides.
If you are interested in speaking with us, users can reach out to [email protected].
Contact
Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer
Reni Achkar
Cantor8
[email protected]
+12202639520
ZUG, SWITZERLAND, May 12th, 2026, Chainwire
Nine protocol initiatives that target EVM compatibility, gasless transactions, compliant security tokens, transaction privacy, AI agent micropayments, and quantum-safe cryptography
The Casper Association today published the Casper Manifest, a multi-year technical roadmap designed to make Casper Network the infrastructure layer for regulated real-world asset tokenization and the emerging machine-to-machine economy.
The Manifest was introduced by Casper Association President & CTO Michael Steuer at the Digital Finance Forum in Bermuda, before an audience of leaders from Web3, traditional finance, and institutional finance.
Building on major protocol releases delivered since mid-2025, including Casper 2.0 with deterministic finality and a multi-VM execution layer, the Manifest sets out nine coordinated initiatives around one goal: making blockchain frictionless for users, trusted by institutions, and native for machines. The roadmap brings EVM compatibility to Casper’s WebAssembly foundation, advances gasless transactions and smart accounts for simpler user experiences, and expands the compliance, privacy, micropayment, native token, and quantum-safe infrastructure needed for real-world assets and autonomous systems to operate with greater predictability and less friction.
Building the Infrastructure for Regulated Assets and Autonomous Systems
The nine core initiatives outlined in the Casper Manifest are organized around the following areas:
Access for every developer. The largest blockchain developer ecosystem builds on Ethereum tooling – Solidity, MetaMask, and thousands of audited smart contract libraries. Casper is adding full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility alongside its existing WebAssembly execution engines, so developers can bring their existing contracts, tools, and wallets to Casper without modification. A native token registry provides equal access to tokens from either side. One chain, two execution environments, zero fragmentation.
Blockchain that’s frictionless for the user. Someone else pays your transaction fees. Multiple steps collapse into a single action. You sign in with your fingerprint instead of managing cryptographic keys. The Casper Manifest delivers gasless transactions, batch operations, and smart accounts that enable biometric authentication – so using a blockchain application feels like using any other app.
Compliance and privacy as one system. Casper will be the first Layer 1 where regulatory compliance and transaction privacy are designed to work together. Compliant security tokens with on-chain identity verification, transfer restrictions, and jurisdictional controls – built in alignment with the ERC-3643 standard that already governs $28 billion in tokenized assets on chain. As a member of the ERC-3643 Association, Casper Association is helping to expand the standard. Alongside compliance, a multi-phase privacy roadmap delivers confidential transactions with fixed, predictable costs – and built-in tools for auditors and regulators to verify compliance without exposing transaction details to the public. Privacy and compliance as two sides of the same system, designed for the $16 trillion real-world asset tokenization market.
Native infrastructure for the machine economy. AI agents need to pay for services programmatically – per API call, per data query, per computation – without subscriptions, invoices, or human intermediaries. As a member of the X402 Foundation, Casper is implementing the X402 open payment standard, enabling machines to pay each other over HTTP in stablecoins and other fungible tokens, expecting to become the first WebAssembly-native Layer 1 with production X402 support. The same smart accounts and gasless infrastructure built for human users give AI agents scoped spending permissions and autonomous operation out of the box, providing best-in-class controls and compliance for AI agents.
Tokens as first-class citizens. User-created tokens on most blockchains are smart contracts that cost significantly more to operate than native currencies. Casper’s Native Token Registry elevates every token to protocol-level status with the same fixed, predictable costs as native transfers. One pricing model for all tokens. One infrastructure layer shared across WebAssembly, EVM and any other future execution environment on Casper Network. The backbone for everything from DeFi to compliant security tokens to private, confidential transfers.
Quantum-safe from the start. No major smart contract platform has shipped post-quantum transaction signing. Casper will, with hybrid accounts that carry both classical and quantum-resistant keys during a transition period. For institutions evaluating blockchain platforms for decade-long deployments, the answer to “what happens when quantum computers arrive” will be production code, not a research paper.
“Much of the industry is focused on either maximizing hype, or iterating on concepts that service the same existing, crypto-native use cases. Few are building the infrastructure that will onboard the next billion users, the next trillion dollars in tokenized assets, or the first billion machines,” said Michael Steuer, President and CTO of the Casper Association. “Executing the Casper Manifest means that developers can bring over their entire EVM stack. For users, blockchain should be invisible. One tap. Done. For institutions, Casper’s roadmap provides on-chain compliance, transaction privacy and quantum safety. And machines need payment rails that don’t require a human, while being bound to spending limits set by their owners on their smart accounts. That’s the future-proof infrastructure Casper is putting in place.”
Timeline
The nine initiatives do not ship all at once. The first, X402 micropayments, is expected to ship in the next few weeks. Later in 2026, Casper will ship EVM compatibility, networking hardening, and compliant security tokens. This will be followed by the Native Token Registry, Gasless transactions, batch operations, and smart accounts. Transaction privacy and quantum safety build on the earlier initiatives, through 2027. Formal protocol enhancement proposals for each initiative will be published.
Explore a deep dive of the Casper Manifest here: https://casper.network/news/manifest
About Casper Network
Casper Network (CSPR) is a layer 1 Proof-of-Stake blockchain engineered for regulated real-world assets and the machine economy. With deterministic transaction finality, a multi-VM execution layer supporting both WebAssembly and soon EVM smart contracts, and fixed-cost operations enforced at the protocol level, Casper delivers the infrastructure for compliant asset tokenization, frictionless consumer experiences, and autonomous machine-to-machine commerce. The Casper Manifest – the network’s multi-year technical roadmap – advances nine coordinated protocol initiatives spanning developer access, user experience, institutional compliance, privacy, micropayments, and quantum safety. The Casper Association, a non-profit organization based in Zug, Switzerland, oversees protocol development and ecosystem growth. Learn more at https://casper.network.
Full Casper Manifest: https://casper.network/news/manifest
Media Contact: Casper Association [email protected]
Contact
Casper Association
[email protected]
Dubai, UAE, May 12th, 2026, Chainwire
NEXST, the AI-driven entertainment infrastructure building the next generation of immersive fan engagement, today announced that its native token, $NXT, will begin trading globally on May 12, 2026 across major crypto trading platforms, including OKX Boost, KuCoin, MEXC, and LBank.
The $NXT TGE will mark the launch of the core utility asset powering the NEXST AI Entertainment ecosystem and its on-chain fan economy. By integrating immersive VR experiences featuring Tier-1 artists, Japanese idol IP-based social gaming, and AI-powered social platforms, NEXST is bringing the multi-trillion-dollar entertainment economy on-chain.
$NXT Official Listing Schedule
The $NXT token powers the NEXST AI Entertainment ecosystem — enabling AI-driven fan engagement, immersive experiences, governance, and the tokenization of next-generation entertainment economies.
Trading Begins on May 12, 2026 (UTC)
08:00 UTC OKX Boost
10:00 UTC KuCoin /MEXC /LBank
Token Information
- Ticker: $NXT
- Network: BNB Smart Chain
- Total Supply: 600,000,000 $NXT
- Circulating supply at TGE: Only 1.34% (including liquidity. No VC/investors unlock on TGE)
- Team lock: 12 months
Capturing the Multi-Trillion Dollar Entertainment Industry
The global entertainment and media market is currently valued at approximately $2.8 trillion, fueled largely by the passion of dedicated fanbases. However, the majority of this value has historically been captured by centralized platforms.
NEXST introduces a model that tokenizes collaborations with established K-POP artists and Japanese idol intellectual property across its AI and VR products. This approach is designed to enable fans to participate in the value generated by these collaborations, with transactions recorded on-chain to enhance transparency within the existing ecosystem.
From Fragmented Events to “Fan Continuity”
At the core of NEXST is a concept referred to as “Fan Continuity.”
Traditional fan experiences are transactional and fragmented; a concert ticket or a piece of merchandise is often a one-off purchase and involvement. NEXST redefines this journey by tokenizing every interaction. Powered by an AI-driven infrastructure, actions such as attending a VR concert, engaging with AI personas, or purchasing RWA-backed assets create persistent rights on the blockchain.
These rights persist and evolve over time, unlocking deeper value, exclusive rewards, and unique access. NEXST acts as the bridge between traditional entertainment and Web3, transforming isolated events into a lifecycle of continuous participation and ownership.
A Tangible On-Chain Economy for Entertainment
NEXST distinguishes itself through a suite of products backed by global IP partnerships:
- Immersive VR & Social Gaming: High-fidelity VR experiences with popular K-POP idols and interactive social games featuring Japanese idol IPs.
- AI Social Media & Prediction Markets: A next-generation platform where creators and fans interact through AI-generated content and engage in prediction markets.
- RWA (Real World Asset) Integration: Tokenizing physical assets like artist trading cards to provide fans with verifiable ownership and secondary market liquidity.
The Dawn of a New Global Fandom
The listing of $NXT on OKX Boost, KuCoin, MEXC, and LBank marks a pivotal milestone in scaling the “Fan Continuity” vision. As the infrastructure matures and its presence expands across these premier global exchanges, fans worldwide will finally have the tools to transform their enthusiasm into a measurable, liquid asset, ushering in a new era of the AI-driven creator economy.
About NEXST
NEXST is an AI-driven entertainment infrastructure that tokenizes the full spectrum of fan experiences. By bridging traditional entertainment with Web3 through its proprietary “Fan Continuity” framework, NEXST ensures that fan engagement creates persistent rights and unlocks long-term value, empowering fans to become true stakeholders in the entertainment world.
NEXST Products & Official Channels
Xmersive (VR & RWA platforms) https://xmersive.nexst.inc/
Idol IP Mini Game: https://linktr.ee/dearstgame
Trade: OKX Boost, KuCoin, MEXC, LBank
Official HP: nexst.io
Official X: https://x.com/NEXST_AI
Media contact: [email protected]
Contact
PR Manager
Yumiko Skurr
NEXST
[email protected]
Dubai, U.A.E, May 11th, 2026, Chainwire
MultiBank Group’s crypto arm mb.io, brings African gold on-chain by partnering with Kings Orbis, EON3 Group, and Mavryk.
Institutional gold tokenisation programme to be powered by mb.io RWA, with vaulting in Dubai under LBMA-approved custody, dedicated supply from EON3 Group, and Mavryk as the Layer 1 blockchain and RWA tech infrastructure partner.
mb.io, the crypto arm of MultiBank Group, has confirmed an institutional partnership with Kings Orbis, EON3 Group Ghana Ltd, and Mavryk to develop an institutional-grade tokenisation programme for physically-backed gold sourced from West Africa. The partnership unites four institutional roles in a single architecture: mb.io RWA as the regulated tokenisation marketplace, Kings Orbis as programme coordinator, EON3 Group as the dedicated institutional supply partner, and Mavryk as the Layer 1 blockchain and RWA tech infrastructure partner.
Senior representatives of all four partners attended the World Peace Summit in Kumasi, Ghana on Friday, 24 April 2026, where they participated in discussions held under the Pillars of Peace movement. The visit included a private audience with His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene King of the Ashanti Kingdom, who has expressed his personal support for the success of this partnership. The meeting underscored the cultural significance of West African gold and the responsible institutional framework the partnership is designed to deliver.
The Ashanti Kingdom, one of West Africa’s most historically significant kingdoms, has been synonymous with gold for centuries. The region was known globally as the “Gold Coast” for its unmatched gold reserves and has produced gold for over 700 years, supplying global trade routes and shaping the cultural and economic identity of modern Ghana. This collaboration brings that legacy on-chain, making Ashanti gold accessible to a global investor base for the first time in a digitally native, fractionally tradeable form.
Each token represents direct ownership of the underlying physical gold, vaulted in Dubai under institutional-grade custody. Beyond commodity-grade gold, the partnership will also tokenise a curated collection of Gold Art — physical artworks crafted from and inspired by Ashanti gold — honouring the cultural legacy of His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene and a globally recognised advocate for the Pillars of Peace movement.
The programme that mb.io, Kings Orbis, EON3, and Mavryk are developing together is built to change that. It gives international investors access to African gold in a digital, fractional format. Physical backing is independently verified at every stage.
Under the architecture being developed, each token will represent direct institutional ownership of the underlying physical gold, vaulted in Dubai under LBMA-approved institutional custody. Kings Orbis is structuring the programme on a single founding principle: every token in circulation must be backed by an independently verified physical asset, with institutional oversight at every stage of the lifecycle, from sourcing and refining through vaulting, tokenisation, and secondary trading.
The program is delivered through mb.io RWA, MultiBank Group’s digital asset and tokenization arm. mb.io runs a regulated crypto exchange and will be launching a dedicated marketplace for tokenized real-world assets. Self-custodial wallets and on-chain compliance are built into the platform from the ground up.
mb.io is a globally regulated cryptocurrency exchange, placing it among a small group of tokenization platforms with genuine regulatory backing in one of the world’s most active digital asset jurisdictions.
The African gold programme is one of the largest initiatives currently in active development on mb.io RWA, which is being built to support institutional-grade tokenization across multiple asset classes.
The programme is powered by Mavryk, mb.io’s dedicated Layer 1 blockchain and RWA tech infrastructure partner. Mavryk’s purpose-built infrastructure provides the technical foundation for issuing, settling, and trading tokenised physical gold at institutional scale, with the compliance hooks, lifecycle controls, and interoperability that regulated programmes require. Mavryk has been integrated as the dedicated Layer 1 across mb.io’s RWA programme, ensuring a consistent technology stack across asset classes.
Comments from the partners
Zak Taher, CEO of mb.io and Chief Business Officer of MultiBank Group, said: “This partnership represents a defining moment for real-world asset tokenisation. By bringing the heritage and value of Ashanti gold on-chain through mb.io RWA, we are giving global investors access to one of the world’s oldest and most trusted stores of value in a fully digital, fractional, and regulated form. The additional Gold Art collection adds an extraordinary cultural dimension to this initiative, connecting tradition, art, and finance in a way that has never been done before.”
Christian Rainer Arndt, Managing Partner of DEVPRAG FZCO and principal of Kings Orbis FZCO, said: “Kings Orbis has been built on the principle that institutional-grade tokenisation requires institutional-grade architecture, verified supply, regulated custody, and independent oversight at every stage. Our supply partnership with EON3 Group Ghana Ltd anchors the programme in a credible institutional supply chain, and this partnership with mb.io and Mavryk brings the platform, the infrastructure, and the programme coordination into a single institutional framework. We are progressing carefully and look forward to sharing more in due course.”
Richard Ofori Atta, Chairman of EON3 Group Ghana Ltd, said: “EON3 has spent years building the operational foundations to bring African gold to international markets in physical form, particularly through our minting and refining work in producing investment-grade bullion. With this partnership, we now take that work into its next chapter, digitising and tokenising African gold under institutional architecture, in collaboration with Kings Orbis, mb.io, and Mavryk. It is a natural and important evolution that opens new pathways for African gold as a credible, transparent, and globally accessible institutional asset.”
Alex Davis, Co-Founder and CEO of Mavryk, said: “Mavryk was built specifically for real-world assets, with a focus that makes a programme like this possible at institutional scale. Tokenising African gold is precisely the kind of initiative our infrastructure was designed for, and a partnership we are proud to be part of. Together with mb.io, Kings Orbis, and EON3, we are powering this programme as the dedicated Layer 1 and RWA tech partner across every stage of the architecture.”
About mb.io
mb.io is the digital asset and tokenisation arm of MultiBank Group. Built for institutional and retail participants, mb.io operates a regulated cryptocurrency exchange and the dedicated mb.io RWA marketplace for tokenised real-world assets, supported by self-custodial wallet infrastructure, on-chain compliance, and direct integration with MultiBank Group’s wider regulatory and distribution footprint. Operated by MEX Digital FZE and licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), mb.io is positioned as a regulated home for institutional-grade tokenisation programmes, with real-world asset issuance running on Mavryk as the dedicated Layer 1 infrastructure. Users can learn more at mb.io.
About MultiBank Group
MultiBank Group, established in California, USA in 2005, is a global leader in financial derivatives, digital asset trading, and institutional ECN solutions. With over 2 million clients in 100+ countries and a daily trading volume exceeding $35 billion, the Group offers a broad range of brokerage, cryptocurrency, and asset management services, catering to both retail and institutional clients through its ecosystem of platforms, including MEX Exchange and mb.io. Renowned for innovative trading solutions, robust regulatory compliance, and exceptional customer service, MultiBank Group is regulated by 18+ top-tier financial authorities across five continents. Users can learn more at multibankgroup.com.
About Kings Orbis
Kings Orbis is a structured digital asset programme series administered by Kings Orbis FZCO, a DMCC-licensed entity in Dubai, with implementation by DEVPRAG FZCO (DMCC Licence No. DMCC-1017125). Kings Orbis is built to bring institutional-grade governance, transparency, and lifecycle integrity to real-world asset tokenisation, with a programme architecture designed around verified physical asset backing and independent institutional oversight.
About EON3 Group Ghana Ltd
EON3 Group Ghana Ltd, headquartered in Accra, Ghana, is an African gold institutional enterprise active in the responsible sourcing, refining, and physical minting of African gold into investment-grade bullion. Through licensed and compliant channels, EON3 Group works with established refining and supply networks across the continent to deliver institutional-grade gold supply to international markets.
About Mavryk
Mavryk is a next-generation Layer-1 blockchain purpose-built to bring real-world assets on-chain. Combining tokenisation infrastructure, scalable DeFi applications, and institutional TradFi partnerships, Mavryk delivers compliant, scalable, and interoperable RWA infrastructure for partners across the financial ecosystem. mb.io has integrated Mavryk as its dedicated Layer 1 partner for all RWA tokenisation initiatives. Users can learn more at Mavryk.org.
Contact
Mr.
Nikolas Neofytou
mb.io
[email protected]